Three Oral Health Habits You Need to Break

Posted June 18, 2015.

Everyone seems to get stuck in their day-to-day routine, and it can be hard to break out of that from time-to-time. However, especially when it comes to oral health, it is important to stop those bad habits now before they affect your smile even more than they already have.

1. Not flossing – Most Americans don’t floss, and flossing is one of the most important health habits. Regular tooth brushing is good, but adding flossing to that routine will be even better. Brushing just removes surface stains, plaque, and bacteria, while flossing gets in between the teeth and in crevices which can be impossible to reach with a toothbrush.

2. Teeth grinding – Grinding is when you atively slide your teeth back and forth over each other and it often occurs during the night while you are sleeping. This habit can lead to fractured or even broken teeth.

3. Cheek biting – Accidental cheek biting is common and harmless, but chronic cheek biting can lead to irritation and infection in some cases. It can also lead to oral cancer later down the road.

Overcoming bad habits can be overwhelming, but rest assured that, when taken on one step at at time, anything is possible.